Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Drumsticks

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Looking for a fuss-free dinner that’s big on flavor and short on ingredients? These Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Drumsticks are a weeknight lifesaver! With just 4 simple ingredients, you can toss everything into your slow cooker and come home to tender, juicy, fall-off-the-bone chicken coated in rich, sticky BBQ sauce.

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Ok, but did you know you can cook drumsticks in the crock pot!? YES! I’m convinced there isn’t anything you can’t cook in a crock pot.

Here’s Why You’ll Love This!

1. Set it and Forget it! Toss everything in the slow cooker, turn it on, and let it do the work while you go about your day. Zero babysitting required!
2. No Oven required! This recipe keeps your kitchen cool, especially during hot summer months.
3. This Chicken is SO Juicy! The slow cooking process makes the drumsticks incredibly juicy and tender—meat that practically falls off the bone.
4. Packed with Flavor! Cooking low and slow lets the BBQ sauce soak deep into the chicken, giving you bold, smoky-sweet flavor in every bite.
5. It’s Only 4 Ingredients! All you’ll need is drumsticks, BBQ sauce, BBQ dry rub, and water!
6. Kid-Friendly– Drumsticks are fun to eat, and the sticky BBQ sauce is always a hit with little ones (just have the napkins ready!).
7. The perfect recipe for hosting! Whether you’re feeding a family or hosting a party, these drumsticks are an easy, hands-off main dish that everyone loves.

What You’ll Need

Find the full, printable recipe with exact measurements at the bottom of this post. Read on for more details and tips!

On the recipe card below, click “print recipe” and from there you can print out the page or screenshot it to save to your phone’s photo album.

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This recipe is easily doubled!

• 6 quart crock pot or larger. I recently got this programmable crock pot and I’m in love with it!! You literally set it and forget it. When it’s finished the crock pot turns itself to warm until you’re ready to eat.
• Chicken drumsticks- I used 12, but you can add as many as you’d like. The drumsticks can be overlapped.
• BBQ dry rub, your favorite! I like the Kinder’s brand
• Water– or chicken broth
• BBQ sauce– your favorite! Anything goes here! We had this Korean sweet and spicy sauce on hand and it was amazing. Try honey BBQ too!

How To Make It

Season the Chicken: Start by generously seasoning the chicken drumsticks with your favorite BBQ dry rub, making sure each piece is evenly coated.

Add to the Crock Pot: Pour ½ cup of water into the bottom of your slow cooker. Arrange the seasoned drumsticks inside—don’t worry if they overlap slightly.

Add the Sauce: Pour 1½ cups of BBQ sauce over the drumsticks, reserving the remaining sauce for serving later.

Slow Cook: Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3 hours, until the chicken is tender and cooked through.

Serve: Once done, turn off the slow cooker. Serve the drumsticks hot with a side of the reserved BBQ sauce for dipping.

Pair with Sides: These saucy, fall-off-the-bone drumsticks go perfectly with classic cookout favorites like corn on the cob, potato salad, or baked beans.

Did you enjoy this recipe? Take a picture and tag me @StephGigliotti on social media and #StephRealLife. I would absolutely love to see your finished dish!

⭐ Please leave a 5-star rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comment section.

Make Your Own Dry Rub

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika (or regular paprika)
• 1½ teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon chili powder
• ½ teaspoon dry mustard (optional, for a tangy kick)
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)

Tips

1. Pat the chicken dry first: Before seasoning, pat the drumsticks dry with paper towels. This helps the rub stick better and prevents excess moisture in the slow cooker.
2. Don’t skip the sauce: Coating the drumsticks in BBQ sauce before cooking infuses them with rich, tangy flavor as they slow cook.
3. Use a little liquid: Add about ½ cup of water, broth, or apple juice to the bottom of the crock pot. This prevents burning and keeps the chicken juicy.
4. Want crispy skin? Broil them! If you like crispy skin, pop the drumsticks under the broiler for 3–5 minutes after cooking. Just brush on extra BBQ sauce first!
5. Save sauce for serving: Reserve some BBQ sauce to serve on the side or drizzle over just before eating for an extra punch of flavor.
6. Check doneness with a thermometer: Chicken should be at least 165°F (74°C) internally. Drumsticks often go above that in a slow cooker and still stay juicy.
7. Cook a big batch and store leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days. They’re great reheated or shredded for sandwiches.

More Great Recipes

• Crock Pot Dill Pickle Chicken Sandwiches
• Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs
• Red, White, and Blue Deviled Eggs
• No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie
• Crock Pot Shredded BBQ Chicken

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